[tra.verse] n [ME travers, fr. MF traverse, fr. traverser to cross, fr. LL transversare, fr. L transversus transverse--more at transverse] (14c) 1: something that crosses or lies across
2: obstacle, adversity
3: a formal denial of a matter of fact alleged by the opposite party in a legal pleading
4. a: a compartment or recess formed by a partition, curtain, or screen b: a gallery or loft of communication from side to side in a large building
5: a route or way across or over: as a: a zigzag course of a sailing ship with contrary winds b: a curving or zigzag way up a steep grade c: the course followed in traversing
6: the act or an instance of traversing: crossing 7: a protective projecting wall or bank of earth in a trench
8. a: a lateral movement (as of the saddle of a lathe carriage); also: a device for imparting such movement b: the lateral movement of a gun about a pivot or on a carriage to change direction of fire 9: a line surveyed across a plot of ground
[2]tra.verse vb tra.versed ; tra.vers.ing vt (14c) 1 a: to go against or act in opposition to: oppose, thwart b: to deny (as an allegation of fact or an indictment) formally at law
2. a: to go or travel across or over b: to move or pass along or through "light rays traversing a crystal"
3: to make a study of: examine
4: to lie or extend across: cross "the bridge ~s a brook"
5. a: to move to and fro over or along b: to ascend, descend, or cross (a slope or gap) at an angle c: to move (a gun) to right or left on a pivot
6: to make or carry out a survey of by using traverses ~ vi 1: to move back and forth or from side to side
2: to move or turn laterally: swivel 3 a: to climb at an angle or in a zigzag course b: to ski across rather than straight down a hill
4: to make a survey by using traverses -- tra.vers.able adj -- tra.vers.er n [3]tra.verse adj (15c): lying across: transverse